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February 27th, 2016
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Morgan On The Ledge In An Episode Filled With Knockout Performances!

Courtesy/ABC

Friday’s episode of General Hospital was one of the best installments of the ABC daytime drama series in some time which featured stand out performances from the cast, led by Bryan Craig’s emotional and gut-wrenching performance as Morgan, who has been suffering from a manic episode after going off his meds.

Now in the darkest place imaginable, Morgan made his way to the GH rooftop and is preparing to jump off the ledge and end his life. While he is struggling to take that one fatal leap he is joined on the ledge by a bloody Kiki. This is all in Morgan’s imagination, but he believes this is happening right now. Kiki tells Morgan it is his fault she was shot, because he is sick, but they can fix the situation if they jump together and end their lives. Kudos in this part of the scene also goes to Hayley Erin who played a frightening version of good girl Kiki.

Meanwhile, Carly (Laura Wright) after having a tense discussion with Sonny (Maurice Benard) at the hospital, just wants to wash off Kiki’s blood that is all over her hands. In another symbolic scene, Carly scrubs and scrubs the blood off of her so hard that she ends up burning her hands. Griffin (Matt Cohen) happens upon the scene and takes care of Carly’s hands. She lets him know she did not appreciate being lied to that Sonny could truly walk, and that as his doctor, Griffin lied, too. An overwrought Carly calms down for a minute and then apologizes to Griffin, and knows none of what happened with Sonny is his fault.

Courtesy/ABC

Back on the hospital roof, Andre (Anthony Montogmey) finds Morgan ready to end his life. He gets Morgan to open up about how he got to this point. Morgan recounts … not being able to get aroused to be able to have sex with Kiki, because of his meds … wanting to prove that he is man … wanting to show his father that he is good for something and can take care of the business … but that he screwed everything up and Kiki got shot. Andre tells Morgan to think of a happy time in his life prior to this whole bad chain of events. He recalls Christmastime with baby Avery. Michael (Chad Duell) who left Morgan for a few minutes to get Sonny, returns with him. Sonny ties to talk Morgan down, but when that doesn’t work, and in a heart-tugging performance from Maurice Benard, Sonny gets on the ledge with Morgan and says they will jump together. Morgan finally comes down from the ledge into the arms of his father. Later, when Morgan comes back into the hospital, in another tearjerker, Carly runs to her son with open arms after realizing what has just transpired. Laura Wright played all her scenes throughout the episode to perfection. Morgan is now under Andre’s care, and the crisis is overted and now Morgan can hopefully get the help he so needs to live his life.

Courtesy/ABC

And then there was Maura West (Ava), who delivered another sublime performance, as the mother who is praying that her daughter Kiki will not be paralyzed and will survive her near death experience for taking a bullet meant for Morgan. Ava blames herself for all of her bad deeds that this may be payback. She also lashed out at Paul (Richard Burgi) and promised she will bring him down if she is implicated in the arms deal. Paul comes up with an immunity deal for Ava and gives it to Jordan (Vinessa Antoine) at the PCPD, which makes it impossible for her to be touched for any involvement with the arms deal.

Jordan tells Anna she has enough evidence to arrest Paul for what happened with Carlos (Jeffrey Vincent Parise). Anna says she can’t do that, as then she’ll have to arrest her as well. Anna relates that if she and Paul are arrested then Julian and Carlos will get away with killing Duke. In a heartbreaking moment, Anna pleads with Jordan to give her more time, and then she’ll have plenty of people to arrest. Jordan gives Anna only a few weeks and tells her she is truly pushing the boundaries of their friendship.

And just who is Claudette? After Maxie (Kirsten Storms) tries to propose to Nathan (Ryan Paevey) while he is on painkillers recovering from his gunshot wound received at rhe church, as he drifts off in his hospital room he says, “I love you too, Claudette.”

Finally, when Griffin gives Ava an update that Kiki is out of surgery and the bullet has been removed, he tells her Kiki is now in the ICU. And in a hankie-filled closer of the episode, Ava gets into the hospital bed with her daughter and begins to sing her a lullaby. While she sings, the narrative of the other storylines are also being played out, which brought together the entire episode in a dramatic and compelling way.

What did you think of the performances by the cast of GH on Friday’s episode? What did you think of the episode as a whole? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

What a great, intriguing question, Irene. Why, indeed! We should be pressing the story; not any particular scene to carry said story.
Obviously, the story itself is lacking something. The actor is not delivering? The plot is not gripping enough?
Thus, all we are left with are solitary scenes, frozen in the moment. Again, I just have to commend both Maurice and Bryan. I guess it is because I as taken by surprise by the realism; their inspiring dialogue ….words which seemed to dance and have a life of their own. The fear in Sonny’s eyes, the paleness in the otherwise dark countenance shook me as Morgan’s tears of anguish; tortured mind imprisoned my heart.
Lest I forget Kiki…..wow! This girl’s got it !!!!!!!! Kudos. You’ve come a long at, baby!!
I cannot express with words how Laura moved me….
And, Ava’s lullaby which drifted hauntingly through the hospital’s corridors sounded like an otherworldly lament; eerie almost.

Along the same lines: why do I lack the sense that long term, any of this, as dramatic and even as emotionally resonant as it is, makes any difference for any of these characters? That any of them will lead their lives differently, or make different decisions, or go in a different direction because of what has happened? “Character-driven” writing implies (to me, at least) that characters change and evolve in response to what they live through. Raise your hand if you think Sonny and Carly will be playing out some version of this same melodrama within the next couple of years: some family member or loved one is in some kind of peril (emotional, physical, or both) in whole or in part because of Sonny’s lifestyle and one or the other of them having “lied” to the other. Because we’ve certainly seen it happen before. Ditto Ava and her actions’ adverse consequences for one or the other of her children: she hasn’t even been on the show for that long, and I still have quite a feeling of deja vu with this latest round. (No disrespect to Maura West, who is always a pleasure to watch.) She hasn’t murdered anybody lately in cold blood, but otherwise her occasional bursts of self-awareness that she’s not Mother of the Year have not resulted in any behavioral change that I’m aware of.

The show may be no more plot driven than under Carlivati (or Garin Wolf or Guza or even Richard Culliton)—but it’s no less plot driven, either.

Exactly, Timmm. You said it much more clearly and succinctly than I have. But, that is what I meant…to the letter.

AJQ replied March 3rd, 2016 at 7:44 am

“Why is General Hospital always talked about in the form of SCENES instead of stories? I think that is part of the problem with the show.”

Irene, such a simple yet astute point and it is the main problem with the show.

GH is now written and produced for the chatter of Twitter and social media posts where a group of viewers and superfans of certain actors can pretend to be knowledgeable about acting and production and to prop their favorites. It has nothing to do with good storytelling, the kind that would appeal to a larger audience who are not die hard superfans of certain actors and want to show it and enter them in some competition & justify their existence.

We hear all the time on boards, how those two have so much chemistry and Emmy worthy etc. It’s all such nonsense. Take Franco and Liz. Roger superfans write how much chemistry they have together. They don’t and they shouldn’t. If they do it is because the characters are being ignored and therefore it becomes the actors just playing scenes like skits. It makes no sense for those to characters to be in each other’s orbits or have a friendship and if you are watching the show for the story, they don’t and if the actors play the characters true to the story they don’t. So anything we see on screen is a dupe and accepted by those superfans who just want to watch actors do things and watch scenes or skits.

The fact that these scenes are played that way is the opposite of good acting because it betrays the characters identities. Watching scenes and seeing through to the actors and rating the actors performances is not what is about and undermines the story and characters.

But this is what we have now. A show written in skit form so people can Tweet hashtags and start threads on messageboards about Roho and his Emmy worthy performances, except the guy hasn’t been nominated for an Emmy in over ten years and won only once over twenty years ago in the Younger Actor category.

Thank you Irene and AJQ, I concur. GH for me is on the same level as “The Bachelor” .. “this is going to be the most shocking moment yet!’ .. that’s all they do is try to shock us now and get us talking about the show. Yes, they behave badly, yes they’re entertaining, but do we actually really CARE about any of these characters? Not when GH’s main priority is giving its “pets” Emmy reels and using hyperbole to get us to tune in.

Bryan is very good… ALL the acting has been phenomenal..
However-
It’s much like being in one of those help groups or in a rehab center, watching it roll on everyday..
I can’t take much more of these bipolar physiotherapy session.. ..

Well I thought the episode was ok. Maura West and her scenes were fabulous. As for Sonny getting up on the ledge and saving Morgan – just more silly unrealistic writing. For me personally, a waste of my energy yelling “jump” at the tv every time Morgan and Sonny were on screen. How I wish GH could get rid of most of the Corinthos clan…but just more disappointment from the writers.

Agreed that the most effective scene was the last with Maura West’s beautiful singing to her adult daughter and flashes of other mothers and their children. Otherwise I think the praise for the episode is overstated.

Yes, exactly what, I think, Irene has suggested. Some scenes, such as Ava’s singing, bits and pieces of the episodes and of the storylines even, are appreciated versus the big picture.

Patrick replied February 28th, 2016 at 2:25 pm

rolling ; on the floor laughing

“… a waste of my energy yelling “jump” at the tv every time Morgan and Sonny were on screen. ”

the end result… in all that is GH

Sonny And Carly are always brought on to two sucker punch us… and leave us ??? barren ? wasted … suck the life right out of any and all scenes and put their stamp and kibosh on interest

There’s Sonny… up and at em… long forgotten the wheelchair … as his machismo took hold and Sonny amped up the whole church; therein; at the hospital… ready to leap … those stealy eyes and hand signals…. look ! he’s not knee locked , in hiding

Carly on the other hand ! ??? she’s brought in to the WSB espionage .. to wrangle and proclaim…. “I’m a mother” My son is not on right” blah, blah, blah

as she’s in the hospital bathroom… scrubbing her skin till she bleeds internally and the good STUDLY doc… griffin… cleans her up

it’s not like as was mentioned… there was blood shed ??? !!! yeah, Kiki is down… Morgan… is loudly nutting up…

the wedding was a snore fest… rather embarrassing… unfold… what’s to celebrate about Julian and Alexis… who wears the pants in this HOT HARD mess

I certainly didn’t get a feel of all of Port Charles coming together to wedded bliss this eternal ….. supercouple… what would have made it fun… had Alexis let go and gotten hysterical… if any one should have been shot dead… COLD… and would have reverberated FOR ALL of PORT CHARLES… would have been Sam

Carly and Dr. Griffin : I thought… NO WAY.. they cant go down that road again ! I thought for sure Carly and the doc were going to horizontal bop right their in the hospital…. as she’s so… “lost” that her family is barely hanging on… be it truth, nutting up.. stabilized and well just boring

Why does GH continually soil the men of Port Charles with Carly stain… don’t do it

it was all so sugar coated with melodrama… cliffhanger ends… with Sonny at the elevator… Carly standing away from him forward… and to her right… Michael in a chair.

THIS IS IT? this is … what J and S prompt… craft… pen to paper script ?

what’s exciting and interesting about anything… it all left off with the Corinthos’…

not once… under water… did Lulu put up a fight and or struggle… she just sank

came up for air… about 5 times.. and sank right back down

thank goodness she was wearing red

it was a lame reunion… Emme Rylan going make- up less… wow she is a wisp of a thing…

or is it? what ??? ever happened to Valerie? wasn’t she pregnant? or was it just played she thought she might be? I’m so disappointed and STILL WAITING FOR A LAURA STORYLINE, where she’s NOT trotting out .. angst filled for what Nicholas , Liz, and Lulu are going through…. Gawd… I hope whatever is in the Helena Cassadine will… lifts Laura up and at em… GET A LIFE Laura… she’s been back , contracted, since; June 5, 2015… thats roughly 8 months ago… correct me if i’m wrong

I really hope there is something on the horizon for Genie Francis… in that Helena Cassadine will… GIVE HER A JOB, NIcholas !

GH needs to stop assuming that Laura is the epicenter of all that’s good and right for the world…. this ruins her character…

Why couldnt Morgan take Sonny’s hand and force Sonny to jump with him…lol…but seriously, im a long time bipolor sufferer…i have brief outburst over silly stuff, especially when i dont like something on GH but in that case bipolor disorder has nothing to do with it-just the sometimes spotty horrible writing…lol…trying hard to retain my sense of humor…horrible week-not GH-my life…my sister was in hospital with heart problem and as things were looking good she had a relapse and had ‘died’ for four minutes, but an on duty nurse just happened into her room and revived her… her adult son was in the emergency room and my cat suddenly attacked me when fixing a window and bloodied my left arm-doctor put me on antibiodics but i have had a severe headache for days and other problems so its hard sometimes t battle bipoler disorder when you you are thrown such terrible drama in your life.

Jim, I am so sorry to hear all of this. I am happy, however, to learn that your sister came back to you.
Your cat? My cat one time bit into my hand as I stupidly tried to break up a cat fight in the back yard. My hand became as large as a baseball mitt and I had to go to the ER for antibiotics.
Yes, Morgan’s bipolar story is really unrealistic and is not serving those who really do suffer from this devastating disorder.

My cat attack was like that scene in The Birds when Tippi Hendren enters that bedroom and was viciously attacked-my arm was so bloody i thought i would need a blood transfusion…i’ve become ill days later and now i must go back to be checked again.

rebecca1 replied February 28th, 2016 at 6:27 pm

Ah…Harry. They always say never try to break up a cat fight…between cats…or women! Ahem. But seriously…if you currently have a cat or are getting one in the future…paleeeez don’t let him or her out. So dangerous for them. Fights wuth other animals, hit by cars, fleas, etc. Statistically, outdoor cats only live about five years..indoor cats can live 20 and beyond.

I really enjoyed Fridays episode. It seems we are finally gaining some real traction in story. I can’t wait until Anna and Robert find out they have a son the never knew about with this new doctor. Anna must have been pregnant e hen presumed dead in that explosion all those years ago.

Well they certainly do these emotional scenes a lot better than the action scenes. Although I am sure there were some viewers yelling at the set for Sonny and Morgan to jump– in reality they did a honest portrayal of the kind of hopelessness one feels when they are about to end it all and how distorted one’s thinking can get. Although having Saint Sonny be the one the save the day instead of the shrink was bit predictable it was a well written scene and performed with heart and honesty.

And Carly’s bloody hands were very Lady Macbeth– it is too bad it was at this point they decided it was time for the new doctor to be shirtless, the scene would have been very tender if the man wasn’t half naked– very distracting. Still holding out hope Kiki is going to be Nina’s daughter, perhaps a health crisis requiring the right DNA to fix is just around the corner.

REALLY, Mary?????? You too?????? I have been saying this for so long, I got laryngitis from it. LOL.
I also repeatedly said, Kiki will need blood and Nina is a match.
But, Mary….perhaps we should give up. Shay makes sense in saying that it’s a bit too late.
Besides, I think Ava referred to Kiki as her firstborn. I still hope, though. I’m glad you’re there, alongside with me, Mary. Later.

i thought the episode was a standout too, what really stood out for me though was Griffin looking at Anna at the end of the episode, what is his connection to her? i can’t wait to find out, I really like this character and the actor, and if he ends up being related to Anna that will be awesome, he could be Robins twin brother? hence the connection everyone was talking about when they were guessing he was related to Stone since he talked to sonny in his first episode about loosing someone to Hiv? i guessing here, i hope he’s teamed up with liz, i love their chemistry.

i actually enjoyed Bryan Craig’s performance. Especially since he refrained from licking his lips as he frequently does. I thought he was believable and heartfelt. Maurice was just playing himself and though not much of a stretch, his scene with Bryan was touching and sad. It got to me, and I did get teary.
Very unrealistic that a nurse or aide on any floor but especially a psych ward would un-tether a patient who is in restraints under Dr’s orders without consulting with the Doctor or Head Nurse.
I have grown to like Maura West a bit more than I have in the past and i will give credit when it’s due.But please! Hold the shrieks. every dog in my neighborhood was curious. Must Maura always chew the scenery? For me, less is more.
Anyway, at first I thought Ava might have realized her own culpability/accountability as a deficit Mother when after the scene where she shrieks at and rails against Morgan she opens up to Franco and blames herself for Kiki getting shot- After all it is she who is instrumental in Kiki having low self-esteem, blurred the boundary lines of Mother/daughter relationship and for Kiki being needy. I mean lets face it, Ava is a manipulative, cold-blooded murderess, no matter how you spin it and a very narcissistic one besides. After all she did have an affair with her daughter’s boyfriend in two incarnations, n’est–ce pas?:
. But her self- realization session with art-therapist Franco didn’t help that much because again, she started shreiking like a lunatic banshee and railed against Paul. Too much ham.
Laura Wright is a good actress-I’ve really liked her since Loving/The City-
but Carly is very annoying as well as confused. She very consciously married the mob til death do her in. She has had blood on her hands, (and head) many times and has seen her own son in a coma as a result of a gunshot wound to his head, a result of deliberate violence. So why did Kiki’s blood on her hands invoke Lady ” out, out damned spot’ Macbeth?.
What about all the bad boys and caricature mobsters in her life by choice.whose business includes blood shed if necessary. What about Tony Jones’blood after she fired a bullet into him? I guess it’s just Kiki’s sangre, a different shade of red, that elicits the Lady M in Carly.

I would really like to see Anna Devane returned to her powerful, saavy, secret agent get the job done, no holds barred, can’t be outwitted, self.
Please bring Robert Scorpio and Sean Donely back to join forces with her and kick Frau Blucher out of a once again formidable WSB and make Robert or Anna chief.
I’d also like to see Jasper Jacks back on the scene as a good guy, suave corporate raider who undoes Nicholas and returns ELQ to it’s rightful owners.
Most of all, please writers and ptb, keep the focus on and storylines radiating from the show’s namesake, General Hospital.

Its funny/sad, GH refuses to use their vets or I’d say most of them. I could agree if there was no purpose but both Monica and Bobbi have a lot of family on the show. It sucks. Another point, Maxie is a chatter box, you mean to tell me she doesnt EVER talk to her mom? DUMB!

As a newer viewer I’m thinking how was i not watching this amazing show ages ago? Imo this is by far the best story lines and acting of any daytime soap. This episode was fantastic. Now I’m hoping for some honeymoon scenes with Julexis.

Best full week of GH in a very long time. I didn’t think anything could top the great episodes on Tues/Wed with the action/drama but Friday’s was even more amazing with so much heart. The show truly had a little bit of everything this week and it’s very rare these days in daytime soaps that you can have a complete week like GH just pulled off. Bravo to the writers, actors and directors.

Hi Jay..
Wow! lol
I do not understand who some can see this doom and gloom as entertaining lol
So far;

We have lil’ Jake a messed up in head kid hit by a car near dead and fighting to walk again .
We have Kiki fighting for her life .
We have Nathan in the hospital gunshot wound
We have Carly scrubbing the skin off her hands
We have/had Sonny paralyzed
We have Morgan going through bipolar attacks
We have Tracy going into brain tumor or stroke
We have Lulu near dead from drowning

GH has become-
saddening, cheerless, dreary, dismal, bleak, crap!!

I have not one, not one chuckle, laugh in near 6 months, not one feel good laugh.

I do not find GH fun & entertaining, I am not entertained but being brought down by the doom and gloom that is now GH
And I see some people who like to become depressed, crying, because it’s entertaining good stuff to them.

And the talk talk talk talk talk say nothing overkill conversations that bore the bejesus outta me..
I am not happy watch, I am not smiling, I am not having a laugh or two, I am not feeling a wow after watching but more so full of dread after watching from the depressing stories..

I do not watch to become downtrodden but rather would like on the edge, suspenseful, intriguing, adventure that is entertaining in whichever direction and some good felt laughter and mystery.
..and couples with a life outside of sex and love problems and get them out of the bedroom into an energizing life, that would be different.

Yes the acting was good but there were no big surprises. There was no way Morgan was going to jump. I cannot stand him and had hoped that Heather would burst through the door and push him off the ledge! Kiki was great and Haley has grown before our eyes. Michael was smart enough to go get his dad.

Carly washing her hands was very good.

Anna and Jordan. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

Maxie, Nathan, Nina, Franco and Mudah wrecked a decent show! No purpose for their scenes whatsoever!

I thought Laura Wright was perfection….so credible, Timmm.
I was so confused by Hayden’s and Tracy’s cryptic conversation….were they talking about the same thing? Is it possible for the elder Quartermaine to be Hayden’s father? Wow…SISTERS!!
Tracey had her first big seizure….after her few TIA’s….poor Tracy.
Where are TPTB going with this?

Hi Kim…yes…that was my second guess; first was Stone’s brother. I posted above that I thoughtI he might be Duke and Anna’s son as well. Still inclined toward the Stone theory but being Duke’s son would be beautiful for Anna. I just dont remember if Anna miscarried…not sure I was watching back then…or if it’s plausible in the sense that their baby was thought dead but kidnapped.

Loved the episode. My only reservation is the ease with which Sonny, who was paralyzed a couple of weeks ago, climbed nimbly onto the ledge with little or no effort. I thought he was recovering but not fully recovered enough to execute a stunt like that. The drama would have been heightened if he had struggled somewhat and if his risky behavior had been noted in the scene. Otherwise, good stuff! Long Live GH!!

Another awful episode. Carly walked around with Kiki’s blood on her hands all night? That’s sanitary. And then she goes into the doctors’ quarters to wash her hands because how else is she going to run into a shirtless Griffin. Can you say plot driven? (And the hand washing scene felt forced to me — if Carly was ever going to go all Lady MacBeth, it should’ve been for her part in covering up A.J.’s murder and lying to her son about it.) Also, Carly is married to a mobster who murdered A.J. and has committed countless crimes but the fact he lied about being able to walk is what gets her panties in a twist? I just can’t with that character…

Morgan on the ledge. Puh- lease. He’s a Corinthos — was there ever any question he would survive? And was there any doubt that Saint Sonny would step up (literally) to save the day? I’ve read Little Golden Books with more suspense.

I don’t know why Paul needed an immunity deal for Ava — the PCPD left all those crates of guns on the docks unattended for Carly to throw in the harbor during one of her fast forward worthy hissy fits so the chain of evidence was compromised and would never stand up in court.

If the Prospect Park lawsuit weren’t still an ongoing matter (it is still ongoing isn’t it?) I would guess that Griffin is the son of ALL MY CHILDREN’s Alex Devane-Marrick and Dmitri Marrick and he was struck by Anna’s resemblance to his mother.

Good one, Allen. Griffin could be Alex’s, Anna’s and yet another sister Lindsey’s ( deceased) son. If he is Lindsey’s, then he is Aiden Devane’s ( Turner) brother.
My grandmother told me that Charlotte, the sisters’s evil aunt took many secrets with her when she died. GH can do anything it wants with this history. It’s a can of worms waiting to be opened. Griffin could be related to anybody, at this point.
Nonetheless, I think you’re on to something, Alan.

No offense, I respect Shriner’s hospital, but I am tired of GH becoming an infomercial for the hospital. If I have to hear did you know there are 20 Shriner’s hospitals across the country one more time…

I understand, Phil. It’s too staged; too contrived; too obvious. But, I do feel for those kids whose family has zero money. This is done to incite us, the viewers to donate. We can’t really hold it against them.
As I said days ago, everyone should walk the halls of any children’s hospital and check out the suffering by the kids and family members. It is devastating.
Boston Children’s, St. Jude’s etc. hold marathons every so-often. I do not think Shriner’s has marathons. I could be wrong. Their funding is all donations….so it needs all the exposure it can get.

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The second annual GH Convention is almost here. Many of your favorites will be in attendance at the two-day event March 10th and 11th. Check out the video below and make sure to check out the event website for more on the festivites if you are coming to, or in and around Southern California! Leave a comment »